Zoe Slater shaken to the core in early EastEnders iPlayer release as she makes contact with Max

Zoe Slater’s worst fears were confirmed as she sought help from Max Branning (Picture: BBC)

EastEnders spoilers follow for Monday’s (September 15) episode that is now available to view on BBC iPlayer. The episode in question will air on BBC One on at 7:30pm.

The scales well and truly fell from Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) eyes in EastEnders upon learning that her story had been told to the papers by her loved ones, who had been hoping to get justice for what happened.

Zoe, as viewers know, staged a return decades in the making earlier this month, setting foot back onto the Square for the first time in over 20 years, much to the delight of mum Kat (Jessie Wallace).

The reunion, however, was far from a happy one, with old wounds reopened for the mother and daughter duo as a showdown ensued, with Zoe resolving to leave once more.

Things subsequently took a devastating turn, with Zoe shot while strolling down Bridge Street. The incident was declared by police as a ‘gang-related’ one, with the authorities believing Zoe to have got caught in the crossfire.

Zoe, however, fears there is more to it than that.

A flashback episode two weeks ago filled audiences in on what Zoe has been up to over the past two decades, confirming that she gave birth to twins in 2006, with one baby having sadly died.

Zoe returned home from hospital (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Earlier this year, she resolved to try and locate her child, with Max Branning (Jake Wood) agreeing to help her.

However, Greg Dolan, an old neighbour of her son’s family – who demanded cash upfront – proved villainous as he attempted to attack Zoe, who retaliated by grabbing a lamp nearby and hitting him over the head with it.

She swiftly made tracks from the scene, with Max horrified to learn what she did, which set in motion the end of their short-lived connection.

In the present day scenes, Zoe recovered in hospital and agreed to return to Walford but only if her presence was kept under wraps. Kat agreed to such terms but to her horror she soon discovered that Freddie (Bobby Brazier) had put up a post online asking for more information from the public regarding the shooting, naming Zoe in the post.

To complicate matters further, it also made the papers.

Monday’s (September 15) edition of the BBC One soap saw Zoe return to the Square, where she moved in with the Slaters, who swiftly overwhelmed her.

Needing some air, she took a walk around the place she used to call home and it wasn’t long before she crossed paths with Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig), who was quick to confront her over Den Watts’ (Leslie Grantham) demise 20 years ago.

Later, Zoe headed to the Vic, where she came to realise that she needed the support of her loved ones – but her face dropped when she saw the paper, believing herself to be a ‘sitting duck’.

Zoe’s smile soon turned to a look of shock as she made a big discovery (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Zoe, as audiences know, is unaware that Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) was the one who shot her and thus reckons that Greg Dolan is out for revenge – and that it’s only a matter of time before she’s tracked down now that her name is in the paper.

In a bid to get out of dodge, Zoe called Max and urged him to come get her at once. The question is: will Max do as he’s told? The last we saw of Max, he made it quite clear that he doesn’t like being told what to do so the jury is still very much out on that one, we’re afraid.

Will Max return Zoe’s call? (Picture: BBC/Jack Barns/Kieron McCarron)

Upcoming scenes will see Zoe attempt to flee but, as she pack her bags, she’s caught in the act by Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner).

Stacey pleads with her to stay and learns that Zoe had a fight with Greg and reckons he could be dead.

The next day, Stacey takes Zoe off to Greg’s as they wait to see if he emerges from the flat.

But is he still alive? Or are Zoe’s worst fears set to be confirmed?

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.

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